EP4299319A2 - Ausrichtung vereinzelter substrate - Google Patents

Ausrichtung vereinzelter substrate Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4299319A2
EP4299319A2 EP23175116.5A EP23175116A EP4299319A2 EP 4299319 A2 EP4299319 A2 EP 4299319A2 EP 23175116 A EP23175116 A EP 23175116A EP 4299319 A2 EP4299319 A2 EP 4299319A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
support
tooling
workpieces
support surface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23175116.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP4299319A3 (de
Inventor
Keith Michael HANSFORD
Simon Stuart Pape
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ASMPT SMT Singapore Pte Ltd
Original Assignee
ASMPT SMT Singapore Pte Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ASMPT SMT Singapore Pte Ltd filed Critical ASMPT SMT Singapore Pte Ltd
Publication of EP4299319A2 publication Critical patent/EP4299319A2/de
Publication of EP4299319A3 publication Critical patent/EP4299319A3/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B41F15/16—Printing tables
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/08—Machines
    • B41F15/0881—Machines for printing on polyhedral articles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
    • H05K3/10—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern
    • H05K3/12—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern using thick film techniques, e.g. printing techniques to apply the conductive material or similar techniques for applying conductive paste or ink patterns
    • H05K3/1216—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern using thick film techniques, e.g. printing techniques to apply the conductive material or similar techniques for applying conductive paste or ink patterns by screen printing or stencil printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/08—Machines
    • B41F15/12—Machines with auxiliary equipment, e.g. for drying printed articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B41F15/16—Printing tables
    • B41F15/18—Supports for workpieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B41F15/16—Printing tables
    • B41F15/18—Supports for workpieces
    • B41F15/26—Supports for workpieces for articles with flat surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B41F15/34—Screens, Frames; Holders therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F21/00—Devices for conveying sheets through printing apparatus or machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F33/00—Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F33/00—Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
    • B41F33/0036—Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41L—APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR MANIFOLDING, DUPLICATING OR PRINTING FOR OFFICE OR OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; ADDRESSING MACHINES OR LIKE SERIES-PRINTING MACHINES
    • B41L13/00—Stencilling apparatus for office or other commercial use
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
    • H05K3/10—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern
    • H05K3/12—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern using thick film techniques, e.g. printing techniques to apply the conductive material or similar techniques for applying conductive paste or ink patterns
    • H05K3/1216—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern using thick film techniques, e.g. printing techniques to apply the conductive material or similar techniques for applying conductive paste or ink patterns by screen printing or stencil printing
    • H05K3/1233—Methods or means for supplying the conductive material and for forcing it through the screen or stencil
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2215/00—Screen printing machines
    • B41P2215/10—Screen printing machines characterised by their constructional features
    • B41P2215/11—Registering devices
    • B41P2215/114—Registering devices with means for displacing the article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2215/00—Screen printing machines
    • B41P2215/50—Screen printing machines for particular purposes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to tooling, a printing machine and a method of aligning workpieces prior to a printing operation.
  • Industrial screen-printing machines typically apply a conductive print medium, such as solder paste or conductive ink, onto a planar workpiece, such as a circuit board, by applying the conductive print medium through a pattern of apertures in a printing screen (sometimes referred to as a foil or stencil) using an angled blade or squeegee.
  • a printing screen sometimes referred to as a foil or stencil
  • angled blade or squeegee angled blade or squeegee.
  • the area of the pattern is relatively small with respect to the area of the screen, it is possible to include more than one pattern within the screen, thus allowing more than one area of a board, or more than one board, to be printed simultaneously using the same screen.
  • more than one relatively small screen may be used within the same printing machine to enable the more than one area of a board, or more than one board, to be printed simultaneously using respective screens. While such simultaneous printing may clearly be more efficient than sequential printing, there are problems associated with these techniques.
  • PCBs printed circuit boards
  • One current solution to this problem is to identify defective boards before commencement of the printing operation, and sort the panels into separate batches having similar defects, for example a first batch which is defect-free, a second batch in which the left-most board is defective, a third batch in which the second-left board is defective and so on. A dedicated respective screen may then be used with each batch.
  • a screen having all four aperture patterns would be used for the first batch, while screens having only three aperture patterns would be used for each remaining batch.
  • the second to fifth batches will only be printing at 75% efficiency. Furthermore, if two or more boards are defective then additional measures must be taken.
  • a solution to the above problem is to pre-separate or "singulate" the individual boards before the printing process.
  • any defective boards could be identified before printing and rejected immediately, so that only non-defective boards are printed. While this process is relatively efficient, it introduces complications. In particular, it is difficult both to support and to align individual relatively small boards for simultaneous (or sequential) printing.
  • GB 2484373 A describes a method in which individual boards are respectively positioned, but this only permits the sequential printing of one substrate at a time.
  • JP-2009-248551 describes a method in which the position of each board is checked individually, and each board is sequentially repositioned using a repositioning arm. While this technique permits all boards of a panel to be printed on simultaneously, additional apparatus (i.e. the positioning arm) is required, and moving the arm between workpieces is time-consuming.
  • WO2014/166956 describes an alternative apparatus, in which all boards may be aligned simultaneously using a reference webbing, and then simultaneously printed. This solution works well, though will not be suitable if an incoming unprinted board is positioned too far from its correct position.
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of such an assembly 4, here including a 2 x 4 array of individual support "towers" 5.
  • Each tower 5 is topped with a support surface 6 upon which a workpiece (not shown) may be supported during a printing operation.
  • each tower 5 is individually actuable to move in orthogonal directions X and Y, which would typically be in the horizontal plane, and also to rotate about an orthogonal Z axis, which would typically extend in the vertical direction to provide so-called theta correction.
  • the present invention seeks to overcome this problem and enable the use of a support tower tooling system, such as MASS, with all currently-used arrays of singulated workpieces.
  • a support tower tooling system such as MASS
  • the present invention therefore enables printing of singulated workpieces housed in all standard carrier trays, such as "JEDEC" trays, using 'MASS-type' tooling.
  • each support tower with a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface of the plurality being arranged at a differential height profile in a pre-printing configuration, so that lifting of the or each support tower causes individual workpieces to be contacted from below in a staggered manner, so that they can be individually aligned.
  • tooling for supporting workpieces during a printing operation comprising:
  • a printing machine for printing workpieces at a printing location within the printing machine, comprising:
  • a method of aligning workpieces prior to a printing operation comprising the steps of:
  • FIGs. 3A to 9B An alignment method in accordance with the present invention is schematically shown in FIGs. 3A to 9B .
  • FIGs. 3A, 3B show an initial stage of the method, in which a carrier 10, such as a JEDEC tray, external to a printing machine (28, see FIG. 4B ) is to be transported to a printing location by a transport system (not shown) of the printing machine 28.
  • a transport system may typically comprise a number of conveyors (not shown) which the carrier 10 may directly rest on, the conveyors configured to move, in a horizontal plane and in the X direction shown, a carrier 10 loaded with unprinted workpieces 11 from an input to the printing machine 28, then to the printing location, and, following completion of a printing operation in which print medium such as solder paste is transferred onto an upper surface of the workpieces, to an output of the printing machine 28.
  • the carrier 10 may then be transported to other parts of a production line as required, for example to a placement machine, inspection machine or reflow oven.
  • the printing machine 28 including its transport system is controlled by a control system running sophisticated software via suitably programmed processors, computers or the like.
  • carrier 10 is loaded with four unprinted, singulated workpieces 11, labelled 11A-11D. These workpieces 11 may not be well-aligned within the carrier 10, although it should be noted that the amount of misalignment shown in FIG. 3A is exaggerated for clarity.
  • Each workpiece 11 is provided, in a fixed and preset location, with at least one workpiece fiducial 23, a graphical symbol that can be easily recognised by an optical sensor.
  • the printing machine 28 comprises a tooling table 12, which includes a tooling table upper surface 13, this being flat and aligned in the horizontal (X, Y) plane as shown.
  • the tooling table 12 is drivable in the vertical direction, i.e. both parallel and antiparallel to the Z axis as shown, by a drive mechanism (not shown).
  • the tooling table 12 is at least drivable between a lowest position in which the tooling table upper surface 13 is at a height Z0 shown and a highest position in which the tooling table upper surface 13 is at a height ZP shown, which range includes intermediate heights ZA and ZB as shown.
  • the height difference between ZB and ZA is greater than the thickness of a workpiece 11.
  • Tooling 14 is mounted to the tooling table upper surface 13, for vertical movement with the tooling table 12.
  • the tooling comprises two support towers 15, 16, projecting upwardly from an assembly unit 29.
  • the assembly unit 29 comprises control circuitry for controlling movement of the support towers 15, 16, as will be described in more detail below.
  • These support towers 15, 16 are both of the "MASS" type described previously, comprising respective bases 17, 18 and heads 19, 20 positioned vertically above the bases 17, 18.
  • Each head 19, 20 is relatively moveable with respect to its respective base 17, 18 in a horizontal (X, Y) plane.
  • each base 17, 18 comprises an actuator (not shown) for driving the respective head in the horizontal plane relative to the base 17, 18, and in this embodiment the actuator is operative to drive the respective head 19, 20 in orthogonal X and Y directions within the horizontal plane, and also to rotate the respective head 19, 20 about a vertical axis parallel to the Z-axis shown.
  • the actuators may be parallel kinematic actuators to provide such movement while remaining compact in size, as described in EP3693168A1 .
  • the support towers 15, 16 are provided with vacuum connections, so that the respective heads 19, 20 may be selectively supplied with an at least partial vacuum supplied by a separately provided vacuum pump (not shown) located elsewhere in the printing machine 28.
  • Each head 19, 20 is fitted with first and second supports arranged in a linear array, with head 19 being provided with supports 21A, 21B, while head 20 is provided with supports 21C and 21D.
  • Each support 21A-D has a respective support surface 22A-D at an upper end thereof, with each of these support surfaces being adapted to support a single respective workpiece 11A-D thereon.
  • Each of the support surfaces 22A-D is provided with at least one opening (not shown) for selectively supplying an at least partial vacuum to a workpiece 11A-D when it is supported thereon, to anchor the workpiece to the respective supporting support surface.
  • the vacuum supply to each opening is received from the respective head 19, 20.
  • the opening may optionally comprise a gauze-type material.
  • the support surfaces 22A-D may optionally comprise sintered material through which vacuum may be supplied.
  • a first one of the support surfaces i.e. support surfaces 22A and 22C
  • the second one of the support surfaces i.e. support surfaces 22B, 22D
  • the first support surfaces 22A, 22C are located in a pre-printing configuration in which the first (22A, 22C) and second (22B, 22D) support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction (parallel to the Z-axis), i.e.
  • each support surface 22A-D has a shape and dimension selected to generally correspond with that of a workpiece 11, so that it can provide adequate support therefor.
  • the support surfaces 22A-D are shown with dashed lines.
  • the surround plate (24, see FIG. 4B ) which would be present within the printing machine 28, has been omitted.
  • the surround plate 24 is omitted from all of the views from above, i.e. FIGs. 3A to 9A .
  • FIGs. 4A , 4B the carrier 10 is transported to the printing location in which the unprinted workpieces 11A-D overlie respective support surfaces 22A-D. It can be seen from FIG. 4A that the workpieces 11A-D are all misaligned with their underlying support surfaces 22A-D.
  • FIG. 4B more clearly shows the relative positioning of parts within the printing machine 28.
  • the carrier 10 In the printing location, the carrier 10 is located beneath a surround plate 24, which is rigidly fixed to vertically-drivable rails (not shown) within the printing machine 28.
  • a surround plate is a flat plate with apertures formed therein to receive respective singulated workpieces 11.
  • the top surface of the surround plate 24 is arranged to be co-planar with the upper surfaces of the workpieces 11 during a printing operation, to prevent undue stress being placed on the workpieces 11 by the downward pressure applied by a squeegee (27, see FIG. 10 ).
  • a squeegee 27, see FIG. 10
  • Above the surround plate 24 is a printing screen or stencil 25 which is rigidly fixed within the printing machine 28 and patterned with apertures corresponding to the desired target print pattern for the workpieces 11.
  • a squeegee (27, see FIG. 10 ) runs across the top of the printing screen 25 to force print medium through the apertures and onto the workpieces 11.
  • a camera 26 of a camera system In the pre-printing configuration shown, and in the tooling table upper surface 13 is at height Z0, there is sufficient space between the surround plate 24 and the printing screen 25 for a camera 26 of a camera system to be positioned.
  • the camera 26 In this stage of the method, the camera 26 is positioned above each workpiece 11A-D in turn, to capture each respective workpiece fiducial 23 (see FIG. 3A ).
  • the camera 26 may for example by fitted to a movable gantry (not shown) or arm to move it across the carrier 10. In alternative embodiments (not shown), it may be possible to use a camera system capable of capturing the workpiece fiducials 23 of more than one workpiece 11A-D simultaneously.
  • data associated with the captured fiducials is passed to the control system and processed to determine the position of each workpiece 11A-D in the horizontal (X, Y) plane as well as its orientation about a vertical axis parallel to the Z-axis, which is referred to as its ⁇ rotation.
  • the camera 26 is moved to a retracted position horizontally spaced from the carrier 10, so as not to interfere with subsequent movement of the tooling table 12, as shown in FIG. 10 .
  • each support tower 15, 16 is then independently driven (i.e. the heads 19, 20 are independently driven with respect to their bases 17, 18) such that the respective underlying first support surfaces 22A, 22C are brought into alignment with their respective overlying workpieces 11A, 11C, using the workpiece positions determined in the previous step. It will be understood that the position of each support tower 15, 16 can be accurately controlled and determined through the use of suitable encoders in each support tower 15, 16. It should also be understood that since the movement of the heads 17, 18 is small, the resulting displacement of the heads 17, 18 and supports 21A-D is not discernible in FIG. 5B .
  • the tooling table 12 is raised so that the first support surfaces 22A, 22C are brought into contact with the respective workpieces 11A, 11C and lift them out of engagement with the carrier 10. This corresponds with lifting the tooling table upper surface 13 to height ZA as shown.
  • An at least partial vacuum is supplied to the first support surfaces 22A, 22C to securely adhere the respective workpieces 11A, 11C thereto. The at least partial vacuum is applied until completion of the printing operation.
  • each support tower 15, 16 is then independently driven (i.e. the heads 19, 20 are independently driven with respect to their bases 17, 18) such that the respective underlying second support surfaces 22B, 22D are brought into alignment with their respective overlying workpieces 11B, 11D, using the workpiece positions determined previously. Since the movement of the heads 17, 18 is small, the resulting displacement of the heads 17, 18 and supports 21A-D is not discernible in FIG. 7B .
  • the tooling table 12 is further raised so that the second support surfaces 22B, 22D are brought into contact with the respective workpieces 11B, 11D and lift them out of engagement with the carrier 10. This corresponds with lifting the tooling table upper surface 13 to height ZB as shown.
  • An at least partial vacuum is supplied to the second support surfaces 22B, 22D to securely adhere the respective workpieces 11B, 11D thereto. The at least partial vacuum is applied until completion of the printing operation.
  • first support surfaces 22A, 22C are caused to remain at a constant absolute height, rather than moving up with the tooling table 12, so that they move relatively closer to the second support surfaces 22B, 22D as these lift, until all the support surfaces 22A-D are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, at which point the first support surfaces 22A, 22C are in a printing configuration.
  • first support surfaces 22A, 22C may be caused to move to the printing configuration.
  • each of the first support surfaces 22A, 22C may be driveable between its printing and pre-printing configurations.
  • each of the first supports 21A, 21C or support towers particularly within the respective head 19, 20, operative to drive the respective first support surface 22A, 22C downwards relative to the respective second surfaces 22B, 22D.
  • a simpler solution is to constrain each of the first support surfaces 22A, 22C from rising further up with the tooling table 12 once the tooling table upper surface 13 passes height ZA.
  • This may be achieved for example by resiliently biasing each of the first support surfaces 22A, 22C to the pre-printing configuration (i.e. to its maximum vertical height), for example by connecting each of the first support surfaces 22A, 22C to its respective head 19, 20 via a compression spring (not shown).
  • a projection may be provided at each first support surface 22A, 22C for abutting with an external limiting member (not explicitly shown) such that lifting of the first support surface 22A, 22C is prevented during lifting of the support tower 15, 16 when the projection abuts with the external limiting member.
  • the limiting member may comprise at least part of the surround plate 24, i.e. either a member provided on the surround plate specifically for abutting with the projection, or the projection is dimensioned to abut with a 'normal' surround plate itself, which does not include any additional member provided for this purpose.
  • each support tower 15, 16 is then independently driven (i.e. the heads 19, 20 are independently driven with respect to their bases 17, 18) such that all of the support surfaces 22A-D with their respective supported workpieces 11A-D are brought into the correct alignment, i.e. into alignment with the aperture pattern of the printing screen (25, see FIG. 4B ). Since the movement of the heads 17, 18 is small, the resulting displacement of the heads 17, 18 is not discernible in FIG. 9B .
  • the alignment method is completed. It is now possible to print onto all of the workpieces 11A-D in a single print operation. As shown in FIG. 10 , once all of the workpieces 11A-D are correctly aligned, the tooling table 12 is further raised to its print height, at which the tooling table upper surface 13 is at height ZP. This lifting of the tooling table 12 causes both the carrier 10 and the surround plate 24 to also be lifted, as is well-known in the art. When the tooling table 12 is fully lifted to the print height, the workpieces 11A-D and the surround plate 24 are pressed against the underside of the printing screen 25, with the upper sides of the workpieces 11A-D co-planar with the upper surface of the surround plate 24.
  • a squeegee 27 may be drawn across the upper surface of the printing screen 25 to impel printing medium through the apertures of the printing screen 25 and onto the workpieces 11A-D, as is well-known in the art per se.
  • the tooling table 12 is lowered so that the tooling table upper surface 13 returns to height Z0, and the printed workpieces are returned to the carrier 10. This position is shown from the side in FIG. 11 .
  • the transport system may then transport the loaded carrier 10 along the positive X direction shown, to the printing machine output, and hence on to other modules of a production line as required.
  • FIGs. 12A and 12B schematically show, from above and in side view respectively, tooling 114 suitable for use in printing a batch of six workpieces 111A-F arranged in a carrier 110 in a 3x2 matrix array. This may be achieved by using three support towers 115, 116, 117, each of which is MASS-type as previously described, mounted on an assembly unit 129.
  • each support tower 115, 116, 117 each carry first and second support surfaces arranged in a linear array to underlie respective workpieces 111A-F in use, the first support surfaces 122A, 122C, 122E being at a greater height in the pre-printing configuration than the second support surfaces 122B, 122D, 122F.
  • the operation of the tooling 114 is identical to that set out previously.
  • FIG. 13 schematically shows, in perspective view, tooling 140, which includes eight MASS-type support towers 145A-H, arranged in a 4x2 array on an assembly unit 149.
  • the head of each support tower 145A-H carries four support surfaces 142A-D, arranged in a 2x2 square matrix array.
  • 142A-C may be considered "first support surfaces" which, similarly to first support surfaces 22A, 22C of the first-described embodiment, are relatively moveable with respect to the support surface 142D (i.e.
  • a "second support surface" in a vertical direction in use between a printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, and a pre-printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction.
  • the support surfaces 142A-D are all spaced in the vertical direction, with support surface 142A being highest, followed by 142B, then 142C, with support surface 142D being the lowest support surface on the support tower.
  • the tooling 140 is operated very similarly to that previously described. Overlying workpieces (not shown) are aligned as follows:
  • the workpieces may be printed by:
  • GB2596517A describes how MASS-type tooling may be used to print a plurality of singulated substrates which are arranged at pitches in the transport direction that are smaller than the spacing of individual support towers
  • GB Application No. 2117575.7 describes how such apparatus may be used to print a plurality of singulated substrates which are arranged at pitches orthogonal to the transport direction that are smaller than the spacing of individual support towers.
  • both of these approaches implement a two-stage process, in which workpieces located at non-adjacent rows or columns of a carrier array are printed in a first print operation, while workpieces located at interspaced rows or columns of the carrier array are subsequently printed in a second print operation.
  • FIGs. 14A-E schematically show, from above, sequential steps in a method for aligning twenty-seven workpieces 211 arranged in a carrier 210 in a 9x3 matrix array (an example being a JEDEC 31mm 9x3 tray), using tooling 214 comprising three support towers 215, 216, 217 mounted on an assembly unit 229.
  • tooling 214 comprising three support towers 215, 216, 217 mounted on an assembly unit 229.
  • the columns of workpieces are labelled as "1" to "9" above each column.
  • Each support tower 215, 216, 217 includes a head which carries three support surfaces 222 arranged in a linear array, the support surfaces each corresponding to the dimension of a workpiece 211, and spaced by a pitch equal to the pitch of adjacent workpieces 211 in a column (i.e. the distance in the Y direction between each workpiece aligned in the X direction) in the carrier 210.
  • support surfaces 222A and 222B may be considered "first support surfaces" which, similarly to the first support surfaces 22A, 22C of the first-described embodiment, are relatively moveable with respect to the support surface 222C (i.e.
  • a "second support surface" in a vertical direction in use between a printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, and a pre-printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction.
  • the support surfaces 222A-C are all spaced in the vertical direction, with support surface 222A being highest, followed by 222B, with support surface 222C being the lowest support surface on the support tower.
  • the tooling 214 may be operated very similarly to that previously described, and so this aspect will not be described in depth again. It can be seen that the pitch between adjacent columns of workpieces 211 (i.e. the distance in the X direction between each column of three workpieces aligned in the Y direction) in the carrier 210 is smaller than the pitch between adjacent support towers 215, 216, 217.
  • the carrier 210 with its unprinted and unaligned workpieces 211 is shown prior to being transported to the printing location overlying the tooling 214.
  • the carrier 210 with its unprinted and unaligned workpieces 211 is shown having been transported to the printing location, so that workpieces 211 in its rightmost column "1" overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 217, while workpieces 211 in column “4" overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 216, and workpieces 211 in column "7” overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 215.
  • the workpieces in those columns are aligned as previously described, and are then printed as previously described.
  • the carrier 210 with its unprinted and unaligned workpieces 211 is shown having been transported by one pitch in the X direction, so that workpieces 211 in its second rightmost column "2" overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 217, while workpieces 211 in column "5" overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 216, and workpieces 211 in column "8” overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 215.
  • the workpieces in those columns are aligned as previously described, and are then printed as previously described.
  • the carrier 210 with its unprinted and unaligned workpieces 211 is shown having been transported by one pitch in the X direction, so that workpieces 211 in its third rightmost column "3" overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 217, while workpieces 211 in column “6” overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 216, and workpieces 211 in column “9” overlie the respective support surfaces 222A-C of support tower 215.
  • the workpieces in those columns are aligned as previously described, and are then printed as previously described.
  • the carrier 210 in which all workpieces have been aligned and printed, is transported away from the printing location in the X direction, and on to other modules of a production line as required.
  • a further embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown, in a side view, in FIG. 15 .
  • the arrangement shown is very similar to that shown in FIG. 5 , except that as shown, a referencing plate 300 is provided parallel to and vertically above the surround plate 24.
  • Referencing plates are used in some configurations of certain printing machines to actively align singulated workpieces if a MASS-type tooling is not used.
  • An exemplary referencing system which uses two adjacent referencing plates is for example fully described in US2021/0070033A1 , which describes aligning workpieces by sliding, in the horizontal plane, at least one of the referencing plates to contact edges of the singulated workpieces and impel them into correct alignment.
  • the limiting member comprises at least part of the referencing plate 300, i.e. either a member provided on the referencing plate specifically for abutting with the projection, or the projection is dimensioned to abut with a 'normal' referencing plate itself, which does not include any additional member provided for this purpose.
  • referencing plates are retracted from the printing location before commencement of a printing operation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Screen Printers (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Led Device Packages (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
  • Combinations Of Printed Boards (AREA)
EP23175116.5A 2022-06-23 2023-05-24 Ausrichtung vereinzelter substrate Pending EP4299319A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2209248.0A GB2619961A (en) 2022-06-23 2022-06-23 Alignment of singulated substrates

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4299319A2 true EP4299319A2 (de) 2024-01-03
EP4299319A3 EP4299319A3 (de) 2024-03-06

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23175116.5A Pending EP4299319A3 (de) 2022-06-23 2023-05-24 Ausrichtung vereinzelter substrate

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20230415472A1 (de)
EP (1) EP4299319A3 (de)
JP (1) JP2024002975A (de)
KR (1) KR20240000376A (de)
CN (1) CN117283973A (de)
GB (1) GB2619961A (de)
TW (1) TW202402550A (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009248551A (ja) 2008-04-11 2009-10-29 Minami Kk スクリーン印刷機における基板の位置及び角度補正装置
GB2484373A (en) 2009-08-06 2012-04-11 Panasonic Corp Screen printing device and screen printing method
WO2014166956A1 (en) 2013-04-08 2014-10-16 Dtg International Gmbh Workpiece referencing system for and method of referencing workpieces supported by a workpiece carrier
EP3693168A1 (de) 2019-01-03 2020-08-12 ASM Assembly Systems Singapore Pte. Ltd. Ausrichtung von vereinzelten werkstücken
GB2596517A (en) 2020-06-22 2022-01-05 Asm Assembly Systems Singapore Pte Ltd Workpiece alignment and printing

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011031588A (ja) * 2009-08-06 2011-02-17 Panasonic Corp スクリーン印刷装置およびスクリーン印刷方法
WO2014083605A1 (ja) * 2012-11-27 2014-06-05 富士機械製造株式会社 基板印刷装置
WO2018193773A1 (ja) * 2017-04-19 2018-10-25 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 スクリーン印刷装置およびスクリーン印刷方法
WO2020008761A1 (ja) * 2018-07-04 2020-01-09 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 スクリーン印刷装置およびスクリーン印刷方法

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009248551A (ja) 2008-04-11 2009-10-29 Minami Kk スクリーン印刷機における基板の位置及び角度補正装置
GB2484373A (en) 2009-08-06 2012-04-11 Panasonic Corp Screen printing device and screen printing method
WO2014166956A1 (en) 2013-04-08 2014-10-16 Dtg International Gmbh Workpiece referencing system for and method of referencing workpieces supported by a workpiece carrier
US20210070033A1 (en) 2013-04-08 2021-03-11 ASM Assembly Systems Singapore Pte. Ltd Workpiece referencing system for and method of referencing workpieces supported by a workpiece carrier
EP3693168A1 (de) 2019-01-03 2020-08-12 ASM Assembly Systems Singapore Pte. Ltd. Ausrichtung von vereinzelten werkstücken
GB2596517A (en) 2020-06-22 2022-01-05 Asm Assembly Systems Singapore Pte Ltd Workpiece alignment and printing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2619961A (en) 2023-12-27
GB202209248D0 (en) 2022-08-10
EP4299319A3 (de) 2024-03-06
JP2024002975A (ja) 2024-01-11
TW202402550A (zh) 2024-01-16
CN117283973A (zh) 2023-12-26
US20230415472A1 (en) 2023-12-28
KR20240000376A (ko) 2024-01-02

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